Lancaster Police detail what was inside ‘suspicious’ package during library bomb threat
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)– Police have revealed the contents of a package found in the Lancaster Public Library ahead of Saturday’s Drag Story Hour Event, which was canceled due to the suspicious package and bomb threats across the city.
“I’ve been doing this program with Lancaster Pride for years at this point and nothing like this has ever happened,” said drag entertainer Christopher Paolini.
Lancaster City Police said Monday there were coloring books from the U.S. Department of Agriculture inside the package that a library employee was expecting and there is no foul play.
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There was a preplanned sweep being conducted by the K9s for Lancaster City Police and Lancaster County Sheriff Deputy when the package was discovered. A Pennsylvania State Police Bomb Squad was called to the library after the K9s reacted to the package, and cleared the building.
No explosives were found during the incident, police said.
Officers say there could be several reasons both K9s alerted their handlers including the package coming in contact with something the K9s are trained to detect.
Previous coverage -> Lancaster City residents evacuated after bomb threats
Police were then made aware of reported bomb threats in different areas downtown and evacuated residents after the library was cleared. Roads were closed off to the public for hours as police investigated the threats.
In a statement, Lancaster City Police said that the threats “will not be tolerated,” and county Commissioners Ray D’Agostino and Josh Parsons, who both expressed their opposition to the event, posted on Facebook that whoever made these threats must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Lancaster City Burau of Police Sargent Todd Grager said that because of current technology, it could be awhile before they find the suspect.
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“Unfortunately, it’s not like it is on TV,” Grager said. “It’s a little more difficult than that. And sometimes it can be one of those situations where they’re can very quickly and simply be a suspect identified in a situation like this. But there’s other times where it’s a whole lot more difficult because of technology and how technology can sometimes mask or keeps them on anonymous.”
The county’s District Attorney’s Office is working with police in the investigation.
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More than 200 people had planned to attend the Drag Story Event at 1 p.m., which was protested in the days and weeks leading up to the event.
“I’m disappointed and disheartened that things went the way they went, and no one should have to experience what happened on Saturday at all. It it’s it’s insane that something that was supposed to be so wholesome, and fun was greeted with such hatred,” said Paolini.
Police are urging the public to contact them at (717) 735-3300 if they have any information about the threats.
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